Happy Friday! You know what time it is, it’s Miguel’s Friday Thoughts! Today’s thoughts will be about all Canada sports: Fred Van Fleet and Natalie Achonwa’s push to have a WNBA team in Canada.

Without Pascal Siakam, Fred Van Fleet has averaged 18.7 points per game with 7.1 assists per game. He is having an All-Star caliber season. With the return of Siakam, Van Fleet can still be an All-Star this season. With Siakam on the lineup, Fred Van Fleet can utilize one of his best skills: movement without the ball. He is so efficient without the ball, and he’s also a good facilitator. Kyle Lowry excelled well in setting screens, but Van Fleet can also set good screens. He can also shoot well from the perimeter, and the Raptors will need his shooting. Siakam and Van Fleet can do the pick and roll without a problem, which has worked for them. Chemistry won’t be an issue because they did win a championship together in 2019. However, head coach Nick Nurse needs to figure out the chemistry with Siakam and the rest of the teammates because rookie Scottie Barnes is playing sensational in his young career. Siakam, 27, has played two games since his return – on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets and the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, both losses for the Raptors. Eventually, things will get figured out in Toronto, and they have a good thing going on so far.

Minnesota Lynx power forward Natalie Achonwa says Canada is ready for a WNBA team. Canada, especially in the city of Toronto, is a unique sports city. You have the Blue Jays, Maple Leafs, Raptors. A WNBA team in Toronto might be a brilliant idea after all. The Canadian native has been vocal about this idea, and she’s getting some help from the Raptors global ambassador and rap star, Drake. Achonwa, a Canada native, was drafted 9th overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2014 WNBA Draft. She won a gold medal at the AM games. At 16 was the youngest to ever play on the Canadian national team. Team Canada is in 4th of FIBA’s Top 5 ranks for Women’s Basketball. The WNBA has come a lot way, ratings have increased, but more works needs to be done. Sports is constantly evolving, and we could see a WNBA team in Toronto if more conversation about being done. This is something that needs to be pitched and come up with a strategy to make this happen.